Do you REALLY care about correct spelling?

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I have a pet peeve and it's correct spelling.

However, this is not a general rant. It's very specific and it's only ONE WORD.

Most of us have customers and everyone wants more.
I can see some of you nodding.

OK. Now I am going to say that again.
Most of us have costumers and everyone wants more.

What's wrong with what I said the second time?

I am sure most of you will get it BUT for those who don't, I have a question...and it's this...

1. If somebody called you a costumer, would it annoy you?
2. Would you perhaps reconsider using that person for whatever purpose you need?
3. Or wouldn't you care?
4. Some other response?

I have numbered the four options and will be interested to see if people offer an opinion.

I know I am pedantic but I am also curious.

What do you think?
#customers #pedantic #question #spelling
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    4) Your being petty.
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Irregardless of what you say I think it is petty

      I think I would rather be hung from the scaffold than supply a logical answer to your question

      ( this last one drives me nuts )
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by discrat View Post

        Irregardless of what you say I think it is petty

        I think I would rather be hung from the scaffold than supply a logical answer to your question

        ( this last one drives me nuts )
        They are NOW trying to say that "Irregardless" IS a word! Frankly, I don't know why people use it. Maybe it is from the mindless banter that begot "I could care less". I mean LOGICALLY "I could care less" means there is some aspect that you DO care about.

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          They are NOW trying to say that "Irregardless" IS a word! Frankly, I don't know why people use it.
          Trust me, I am not defending the use of that particular "word", Steve.

          But it does bring up an interesting point about language in general. Much as it annoys us perfectionists, language evolves based on collective usage, and even the official dictionaries concede this point. Thus, even "words" like this, when used by enough people, make their way into formal acceptance. Yes, I know, it's quite sad... but true.

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          • Profile picture of the author Kay King
            With two exceptions I usually write off misspellings as either 'typo' - 'simple human error' or 'dumb as a stick'.

            The two words below are misused across the educational strata and I sometimes think they are used to be "one of the guys" by people who know better.

            The words that bug me are:

            Nuclear.
            Nu - clear
            Not nuke-u-ler

            Second word is similar:

            realtor
            real-tor
            not re-la-tor
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          • Profile picture of the author seasoned
            Originally Posted by David Beroff View Post

            Trust me, I am not defending the use of that particular "word", Steve.

            But it does bring up an interesting point about language in general. Much as it annoys us perfectionists, language evolves based on collective usage, and even the official dictionaries concede this point. Thus, even "words" like this, when used by enough people, make their way into formal acceptance. Yes, I know, it's quite sad... but true.

            "Weird Al" Yankovic - Word Crimes - YouTube
            I NEVER accused you of that. I was only remarking. And YEAH, it seems that this happens EVERYWHERE! HECK, I bought an English dictionary because it was supposed to not be so free with changes. One of the few souvenirs I got in Germany was a DUDENS! SAME REASON! Duden - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Irregardless is SPECIAL! It is CONSTANTLY listed as an INCORRECT word! It has been for apparently over a century. But this reminds me of a seen in akeela and the bee Akeelah and the Bee (2006) - IMDb NICE movie, by the way! If more people acted like Akeela in the poor areas, poverty would drop, etc... To those that don't know, the movie is about a very smart girl in an impoverished area, that wants to WIN the national scripps spelling bee. At first, it seems everyone wants to tear her down, but eventually they all chip in to help. One of the tasks she does to prepare is to memorize like 5000 words, as I recall. Anyway, in one scene, her coach tells her that what she said was NOT a word! She goes to HIS huge dictionary, finds it, and then says what you just did. To his HORROR, the word is now there!

            Which Grammar Mistakes Will Keep You From Getting A Good Job? - Forbes
            Words and Expressions Commonly Misused :: Strunk and White | The Floating Library

            Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
    Here's my angle: I personally strive for perfection, and it does annoy me when others mangle the English language. But I'm also a realist, where today's world brings together both those who struggle with English as a second language as well as those who are theoretically native speakers, but still can't manage to express themselves in writing.

    So, in cases where it does matter, such as deciding who will get a job where the final product will include written English, I certainly do use any clues that I can early in the process to eliminate those who can't write. It's also an indicator when I know that the particular person should know better, but their writing doesn't reflect their background. But I also take care to ignore spelling and the like when it won't matter, such as when I'm hiring a graphic artist where their visual talents are more pertinent to the particular task at hand.
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Laurence, I would have thought that someone who offers proofreading services would welcome the spelling mistakes of others, but there's really no point getting worked up about such matters. If you value your sanity, you'll simply learn to live with it or spend less time online.

      I don't see that this has anything to do with caring about the people you deal with.

      .
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      • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
        Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

        Laurence, I would have thought that someone who offers proofreading services would welcome the spelling mistakes of others, but there's really no point getting worked up about such matters. If you value your sanity, you'll simply learn to live with it or spend less time online.

        I don't see that this has anything to do with caring about the people you deal with.

        .
        Do you think that Laurence is saying that, because it annoys him, if we misspell a word, that we don't care for him?

        Terra
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        • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
          Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

          Do you think that Laurence is saying that, because it annoys him, if we misspell a word, that we don't care for him?
          Could be. Unless he's talking about business transactions, in which case he should be grateful his clients are poor spellers.

          .
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  • Profile picture of the author WalkingCarpet
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    I only really care about one person. Three guesses who that might be?
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    • Profile picture of the author socialentry
      Originally Posted by WalkingCarpet View Post

      I only really care about one person. Three guesses who that might be?
      Dennis Rodman?
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    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by WalkingCarpet View Post

      I only really care about one person. Three guesses who that might be?
      1 Claude
      2 Joe
      3 The bald, chubby vacuum cleaner guy with powdered sugar all over his chin
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    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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      Originally Posted by WalkingCarpet View Post

      I only really care about one person. Three guesses who that might be?
      Thanks, WC. That's very nice of you. I'm sorry that I am unable to return the sentiment as I, too, care only about that one individual.

      Cheers. - Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    If I have several people I am vetting for a job, I would eliminate the one who used costomer if the job involved writing or any kind of content creation. I would not eliminate them if the job involved programming and they had the better references and qualifications.
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  • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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    Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

    1. If somebody called you a costumer, would it annoy you?
    This has actually happened in your life? I'm guessing this is some sly psychology quiz.

    It's either that or you simply aren't 'getting enough.'

    Cheers. - Frank
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
      Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post


      It's either that or you simply aren't 'getting enough.'
      lol......or he is but she/he is quite the nag.
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      • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
        A Costumer is someone who provides you with outfits for theatre and fancy dress.

        A Costumore is someone you provide a service too who winges and complains so much you end up losing money on.

        A Cost'amore is a French Hooker.

        Source:The Oxford English Dictionary
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
    Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

    I am sure most of you will get it BUT for those who don't, I have a question...and it's this...

    1. If somebody called you a costumer, would it annoy you?
    2. Would you perhaps reconsider using that person for whatever purpose you need?
    3. Or wouldn't you care?
    4. Some other response.
    Thats not a question but four and you forgot the question mark on the last one (just pointing out how easy it is to find faults that really don't matter). I'd still hire you though. You look at the totality of someone's posts or work not just pick one mistake to draw sweeping conclusions about them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
    Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

    1. If somebody called you a costumer, would it annoy you?
    If I were a cosplayer, I would consider it highly offensive.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    I am not being a nag OR trying to pick on any one person. I am merely pointing out a word I have seen spelt incorrectly LOTS of times in here and elsewhere and hopefully helping people get it right.

    Yes, I am glad that some people spell things wrong in one way, but I would also be happy if nobody did. I would s till have plenty of work as I write, edit and proofread.

    Frank, You're incorrect in saying I think people don't care about me. Besides, if I was worried about that all the time, I would probably never post anything.

    Isn't this forum supposed to be a place where we can help each other? In whatever ways we can? That's all I am trying to do.
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    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

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    • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
      Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

      Isn't this forum supposed to be a place where we can help each other? In whatever ways we can? That's all I am trying to do.
      I think that some of the "off" vibe in this thread may have come from the difference between the primary issue being discussed, (that of grammar and its impact on others), with that of the thread's title, ("Do you REALLY care about the people...?"), which shifts the question into much more of a personal one, and not really the same point at all. I can care deeply about someone, even if they can't necessarily write their way out of a paper bag.
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    • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
      Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

      Yes, I am glad that some people spell things wrong in one way, but I would also be happy if nobody did. I would s till have plenty of work as I write, edit and proofread.
      ..........
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      • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
        Originally Posted by tryinhere View Post

        ..........
        You caught that too, huh?

        Reminds me of stones and glass houses and such.


        Terra
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

      Frank, You're incorrect in saying I think people don't care about me. Besides, if I was worried about that all the time, I would probably never post anything.
      Not sure if that comment's directed at me or my "big" brother, but I didn't actually say that. Terra and I were merely speculating on the motivation behind such a dramatic heading (since altered) for a thread apparently concerning the misspelling of one particular word.

      To address the question in your OP, it really wouldn't bother me if a customer called himself a costomer, as long as he was a paying costomer. But if someone I hired for writing services referred to me as a costomer, I think I'd be looking for another provider. Is that what you were asking?


      Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    OK. David. I have changed the thread's heading now and hope that makes this thread a bit less "off." I see what you meant.
    Unfortunately it doesn't change the heading in all the other posts which I thought it would.
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    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

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  • Profile picture of the author Winning34
    It would depend on the context but a single misspelling is unlikely to annoy me and I think it's more likely to be a typo rather than somebody thinking that's how you spell it.

    I'm not a grammar nazi, but I do agree that good grammar and spelling is important. It's very tiresome and frustrating reading some of the threads in the main forums which are riddled with spelling mistakes and zero punctuation and then expecting people to have to decrypt what they're asking. Punctuation wasn't invented just to give English teachers something to teach. It does actually serve a purpose in making what we write easier to read.
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  • Profile picture of the author seven4
    I have been known to let bad spelling get to me yes, it is definitely something that annoys me and I find that I can pick out words that are spelt wrong really easily even if others didn't see it.
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  • Profile picture of the author butters
    Grammar to an extent is important, if they miss use there and their, I wouldn't care one bit, we have all done it. But when I booked a holiday, my email was filled with things like u, fwd, stupid text speak. I didn't want to speak to a 12 year old kid, I wanted someone professional so I got a different representative! That's where my gripe is, text speak!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Maherz
    No one will take you seriously without using correct grammer!
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  • Profile picture of the author agmccall
    I am never really bothered by spelling in emails or on forums, but, when I get a digital product my expectations are a bit higher

    al
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